Defender Arnab Mondal appointed as India football team captain

Bengaluru, June 10: India's national football team coach Stephen Constantine on Wednesday appointed defender Arnab Mondal as the side's captain.

The 25-year-old who plays for East Bengal in I-legaue will lead the national side for the first time when they lock horns against Oman in their opening Group G qualifying match for the 2018 World Cup on Thursday here at the Kanteerava Stadium.

Constantine also announced Bengaluru FC skipper Sunil Chhetri will be his side's vice-captain.

"I would like to announce Mondal as captain with Chhetri as vice-captain," the 52-year-old was quoted as saying by goal.com.

Veteran goalkeeper Subrata Paul who wore the armband when India triumphed over Nepal in the preliminary qualifiers.

Mondal has donned the Indian jersey 12 times before.